8 new uses for your old smartphone

The excitement of buying a new phone is often out of regret. Most of the time, it’s like nothing Really wrong with the old phone (if not – a bulging battery or a shattered screen is always a bad look). If there was a breakup, an old telephone conversation would start, “You’re great. You are not. Mine. I just wanted a newer model.”

Are you ashamed of yourself? Being. No need to stick the old phone in a drawer or use it as a door decoration or furniture upholstery. There are many ways to get your old phone working. After all, most older smartphones still have plenty of horsepower. Think of yourself as a connected device that no longer has a SIM card. Here are some suggestions on what to do with that extra, old phone.

(This is all assuming you don’t recycle or resell your old Android or iOS device – two excellent options to consider.)

Have a spare phone

I’m a belt-and-sling guy, especially when it comes to gear I rely on like my phone. I always have a spare phone in my travel bag (assuming things get easier one day and I can be on the road again). Nothing hinders a journey like a broken, lost or stolen smartphone. If your main trip gets off track while you’re away from home, buying a SIM card from a vending machine or tobacco dealer and inserting it into a spare can be a real lifesaver – and it’s much cheaper, faster, and less complicated. buying a new phone in a foreign city or country.

An extra remote control

I was late to discover that smartphones make snobby remotes for TVs or streaming devices. Apple TV is a great remote control app for iOSand the Google Home app will control Chromecast devices from: iOS and Android. Roku’s app for Android and iOS replicates the iconic remote control. Other remote control apps include Amazon Fire TV apps for: Android and iOSand for TiVo applications Android and iOS additionally.

In one way, phone apps are better than the real thing: they have keypads, which makes entering titles much faster than navigating the onscreen keyboards of devices.

game platform

You can use your old phone as a gaming device. Players are creative; There are many tools out there that allow you to connect your phone to Xbox or Playstation controllers for gaming, like the Moga Mobile Game Clip For Xbox Wireless Controllers. If you have Switch envy, Razer gives Kishi iPhone and Android something to hold onto. But be warned: compatibility isn’t universal across platforms or across all games, and some controllers make more sense in some game genres. A puzzle player will have different needs than someone who loves first-person shooter games. Think about how and what you play before you buy the game.

set up a webcam

We’ve published several articles on this (see below) and you should check them out. Webcams are really useful for both security and Zoom meetings, but they are in high demand and can still be hard to find these days. If Amazon wants you to wait three weeks for an expensive webcam, try using an older phone instead.

old style media device

Once upon a time, before the iPhone, you had to carry around two devices: a cell phone and a separate music player, which may or may not be an iPod. (Ed note: Tell us another story about Ancient Times, Dad.) Your old phone can still work as a standalone media storage device to back up your library or for real use. Since the (if still working) Wi-Fi still works, you can even use your old phone as a streaming platform, assuming your account is licensed for multiple devices. This can also be the perfect solution for entertaining a young child on the go.

first phones

Speaking of toddlers, your old phone is a great starter device (yes, we really got to that point). You can install approved games and apps on the phone, enable parental controls and everything is ready. If the device breaks down or is lost, there may be tears from the child, but from you? Not a lot.

donate to charity

There are organizations that take old working phones, renew them and use them well. A few places to check Cell Phones for Soldiersproviding free communication for soldiers and their families, and Medic MobileRecycling old phones to fund new phones for healthcare workers in Asia, Latin America and Africa. There are others – but always check them out before donating to any organization you don’t know about. Charitable Explorer or GuideStar.

separate

For some, there is a fundamental joy in taking things apart and seeing what drives them. Your old phone was a part of your life for years; Don’t you wonder what’s inside? Sites like iFixit have detailed disassembly instructions. Successful reassembly is an advanced course. With patience, luck, and skill – and perhaps a few unusual tools you can find online – you can reassemble it with just a few extra parts.